Pocketxnife



l'. JOHNSON.

POCKETKNIFE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR\24,192u.

l,}22,363. Patented July 11, 1922.

UNITE@ SFIES rarest err-ita JONAS JOHNSON, Ol? RA'MSAY, MICHIGAN.

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knives,'and has for its object to provide a knife of the character specified wherein a handle is provided, consisting of a sheath, and having means therein for engaging interchangeahle tools, as, for instance, cutting blades, screw drivers and the like, and for holding said tools firmly in place either within the sheath or extended therefrom in position for use.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan viewof the improved knife, with the blade extended;

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the sheath removed; l f

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, of Figure 2:

Figure 5 is a plan view of the knife, with the blade in the sheath;

Figure 6 is an end View; n

Figure is a section on theline 7-7 of Figure 6. y

In the present embodiment of the invention there isprovided a sheath or case 1. which is in the form 'of a tubular structure having open ends and having one end reduced slightly, as shown at 2. Within this sheath or case, which is, adapted vto hold a series of tools, suoli as blades, there is arranged a yoke or substantially U shaped member, consistingof a bight portion 3 and arms 4 extending" laterally from the bight, the said yoke being of resilient material.

A series of interchangeable tools is adapted for use with the handle composed of the sheath and the yoke, each of the said tools, one of which is shown, being composed of a blade portion 5 and a tang or shank 6. Each of the arms of the yokeis provided at its free end'with an internal enlargement 7, which is grooved on its inner face as indicated at 8. The'opposite side edges of the shank portion of the blade are correspondingly beveled, as clearly shown in Figure fl, to engage in these grooves, and the tang or shank of each tool has outwardly extending pins or lugs 9 at its op- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application. filed March 24,

Patented JuliT 11,' -1l,.2$2

i920. serial No. 368,287.

" posite side edges, and intermediate the ends of the shank'portion, which are adapted to engage openings 10 in the arms 4L at the enlargements 7. Thus the tool is held from movement longitudinally of the handle, as well as from lateral movement or twistingmovement, and there is suicient resiliency in the yoke to insure a lirm grip on the tool.

Each arm 4l of the yoke has an outwardly extending lug 11 at its free end and these lugs are adapted to abut the sheath at the adjacent end thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, to hold the arms l firmly clamped on the shank of the tool. Releasable means 1s provided for preventing accidental outward movement of the yoke with respect to the sheath, .that is, the movement of the yoke toward the' blade holding end of the device. The said mechanism is in the form of a spring latch 12 which at one end is secured within the sheath as at 13, and has at the other end an angular portion 14 which is adapted to engage within one of a series of transverse notches 15 in the inner face `of the bight portion of the yoke. As shown, a'portion of the spring plate 12 at the angular portion 14 isbent upwardly and outwardly to provideV a fingerpiece 16 for convenience in manipulating the latch.

When not in use the tool, which may be of various forms, as, for instance, blades, screw drivers, files and the like, is held with`- in the sheath, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. 4

When itis desired to insert a blade in the handle for use,'the latch 12 is pushed laterally, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure l, until in register .with a notch 17 in the bight 3 which is of suflicient depth to permit the passage of the latch when the yoke is moved forwardly. Each face of the bight portion of the yokey has a notch 17 so that whichever way the yoke is turned the latch may release. The yoke is pushed andpulled from the case and a blade is inserted between the arms thereof, the. pins 9 of the blade engaging theopenings 1() of the yoke. The yoke, with the blade in the full line positionof Figure 2, is then reinserted in the sheath and is' pushed inwardly until the lugs 11 abut in the end of the sheath.

When now the latch l2 is swung laterally, as indicated in Figure 1, Athe angular end thereof will engage one of the notches 15. 

